bhaja_govindam

Sri Shankaracharya 

Bhaja Govindam 

Nagesh D. Sonde

F irst Fe F ew Wo Wor rds

 I am informed that the principles which modern market   philosophy is governed by the principle that the manufacturers are required to manufacture not what is good, noble, beautiful, beautiful, spiritual and therefore desirable for the consumers to elevate their souls but what is pleasant,  palatable, attractive, temporal and therefore desired to  satisfy their senses. Therefore, the ideas, ideals, the idols which modern man addresses himself has to more on temporal level than the spiritual. But since the temporal  endowments are superfluous, temporary, transient, fleeting  changing, modifying and transforming its forms from person to person, from place to place and from period to period  unlike the spiritual truths which is foundational, permanent, abiding, immutable and un-changing un-changing from person to person,  from place to place place and from period period to period, men of Wisdom Wisdom reject the pleasant, palatable, attractive, attracti ve, temporal and accept  the good, noble, beautiful, spiritual.  In life I had set for my goals that which is good, noble, beautiful, spiritual to transcend unsuccessfully though pulled  down like all human beings by what was pleasant, palatable, attractive, temporal. When I set myself on the Patt to  Perfection, I came to the conclusion that the best way of  traversing the Path to Perfection, is to study and ponder over  every book and every scripture and jot down my impressions and responses on paper and in books, though I knew that my impressions and responses were neither complete nor  conclusive, but I believe that what I had studied was

F irst Fe F ew Wo Wor rds

 I am informed that the principles which modern market   philosophy is governed by the principle that the manufacturers are required to manufacture not what is good, noble, beautiful, beautiful, spiritual and therefore desirable for the consumers to elevate their souls but what is pleasant,  palatable, attractive, temporal and therefore desired to  satisfy their senses. Therefore, the ideas, ideals, the idols which modern man addresses himself has to more on temporal level than the spiritual. But since the temporal  endowments are superfluous, temporary, transient, fleeting  changing, modifying and transforming its forms from person to person, from place to place and from period to period  unlike the spiritual truths which is foundational, permanent, abiding, immutable and un-changing un-changing from person to person,  from place to place place and from period period to period, men of Wisdom Wisdom reject the pleasant, palatable, attractive, attracti ve, temporal and accept  the good, noble, beautiful, spiritual.  In life I had set for my goals that which is good, noble, beautiful, spiritual to transcend unsuccessfully though pulled  down like all human beings by what was pleasant, palatable, attractive, temporal. When I set myself on the Patt to  Perfection, I came to the conclusion that the best way of  traversing the Path to Perfection, is to study and ponder over  every book and every scripture and jot down my impressions and responses on paper and in books, though I knew that my impressions and responses were neither complete nor  conclusive, but I believe that what I had studied was

beneficial to me and what I had jotted down as impressions and responses would be helpful to others.  Many of my earlier books were of such impressions and responses, which I desired to share with others. But soon  I found that modern generation did not desire to share my impressions and responses and the books printed and   published were left unshared let alone sold. My requests to the Booksellers to keep them in their shops received no response. Since then my desire to print and publish decreased  and I opened my own Web site hhtp//nagshsonde.com and  uploaded many of books so that those people who were interested in them may have access to them. My desire is not  to teach others what I myself have not experienced but to  share through communication what I have gathered as traversed the Path to Perfection. If the communication helps  some my purpose will be served; if the communication communication does not serve their purpose I have nothing to regret for having  done what I have to do and what I have done.  Mumbai 15th January 2012

Nagesh D. Sonde Sonde

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Bhaja Govindam Human beings in primordial life - saMsaar  influenced by organ of senses are obsessed with the apparent rather than with the real, with what thy see as  forms than with the essence within those forms, dazzled by the perceived benefits of the  physical science and technology rather than by the energy and vibrancy of the ethical, moral and spiritual force of the essence. Modern society while reaping the fruits which science and technology has bestowed on them through the instruments of senses and analyzed and comprehended though intellectual ability have overlooked the danger of the awesome power placed in the hands of the many unenlightened members of the society lacking ethical, moral and spiritual vision. Consequently for the modern world science and technology have been more a bane than blessing, not only to shatter the bodies but also to warp the minds, degrading the life rather than elevate the souls, thereby failing to experience the peace within. Sir Winston Churchill seeing the catastrophic, devastating damage which technology and instruments of mass destruction have wrought by the World War  II, drew the attention of the enlightened minds, saying “ Projects undreamt by the  past generations will absorb our immediate descendants; forces terrific and  devastating will be in their hands; comforts, activities, amenities and pleasures will crowd upon them but their hearts will ache, their lives will be barren, if they have not vision above material things. And with hopes and powers will come danger   s, out of all proportion to the growth of man’s intellect, to the strength of his character or the efficacy of the institutions. Once more the choice is offered  between blessing and cursing ”. Adding further he remarked, “Without an equal   growth of mercy, pity, peace and love, science may itself destroy all that males human life majestic and tolerable. There was never a time when the inherent virtue of human beings required more strong and confident expression in daily life ; there never was a time when the hope of immortality and disdain for earthly life and  achievements were more necessary for the safety of the children of men”. More prophetic words could not have been voiced than these. But human  beings blinded by the ego-sense and the influence of the senses have been rushing where even fools would hesitate enter. The world from beginning was not created

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in a day nor human beings became wise through momentary impulse but evolved gradually, guided more often by hopeless quest for temporal happiness possessing externally perceived material  forms rather than guided by the ethical, moral or  spiritual principles that energize and enrich the essence within. Consequently with the degradation of ethical, moral and spiritual values civilizations after civilization in  Egypt ,  Mesopotamia, Sumerian,  Assyria, Greece and  Rome floundered, only their arts, science and philosophies remaining silent sentinels of the majesty of  human mind and enterprise, while civilizations of India and China, though in the intervening period of time succumbed to the lure of the lucre and the material endowments offered by science and technology maintained to a large extent a  balance between the rich and vibrant ethical, moral and spiritual values - Eaoya , the  Proper as well as their arts, science and philosophies -   op`ya , the Pleasant. One should put the forms in the sacrificial fires, so that out of that exertion the dark smokes will be brushed aside the alluring sun-rays will be withdrawn by and by allowing and the brilliant, auspicious face of the  formless will shine energizing in all resplendence. Indeed sa%ya , the Prime Existence, which is lost in verbiage of the words is found in the silence of the Mind. No words can describe sa%ya , the Prime Existence, all words failing to speak what sa%ya , the Prime Existence really is. Only when the senses are restrained and the intellect is still then in the mind sa%ya , the Prime Existence comes to be experienced. Scriptures only indicate sa%ya , the Prime Existence by symbols and suggestions, both the words and mind return without attaining it – “yatao vaacaao inavat-nto Ap`aPya manasaa sah |”. Indian seers and saints from earlier days were fully conscious that one who concentrates on the  forms would not perceive the essence secreted within those  forms, one who concentrates on words will not access the meaning to be conveyed, one who stick to the river banks will never experience the Bliss of the vast Ocean, , unless one liberates oneself transcending from the attractions of the  forms, saakar  ba`*mana\  neither the formless, inarakar ba`*mana\ would be revealed nor the Bliss of the essence within would be experienced by him. On India‟s spiritual canvas during the last two thousand years or so there have been no one who displayed uncanny power of  discrimination, force of unambiguous rationalization or clarity of vision as Sri Adi Shanjaracharya displayed in clarifying sa%ya , the Prime Existence to those who were

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content to find shelter and satisfaction in the amassed information which they called  Knowledge. Confused and bewildered by the immensity of empirical  Knowledge they thought themselves wise in Wisdom and paraded their undigested  Knowledge, spending their time and energy in following various means, treading various paths and propitiating the various forms. A legend records that once when Sri Shankara was passing one early morning in  Kashi with his disciples, he overheard an old teacher teaching his wards  Panini’s grammar rules as Knowledge that would equip them to reach the abode of  Brahman. Seeing him spend his entire life wasting time in empirical  Knowledge without being enlightened of the Wisdom of  Brahman Sri Shankara  being compassionate informed him that any one can recollect, remember and recite the vedic hymns and yet remain ignorant of  sa%ya , the Prime Existence, whereas even an illiterate can experience sa%ya , the Prime Existence and be called the true seers. Because it is not in words but in the space between the two words that sa%ya , the  Prime Existence is to be sought, since it is there as vibrant Anaaht Qvaina it exists. Bringing to his attention the futility of studying grammar to understand the meaning of  Brahman or propitiating the various forms, treading various paths and following various means, he prevailed upon him to concentrate on the essence within those  forms, putting aside all the various  forms, various paths and various means which are but the steps that lead to the essence, sa%ya , the Prime Existence, who is not in  Panini’s grammar but in the seeker‟s heart within. It is it to drawn out through constant remembrance of  sa%ya , the Prime Existence, be repeating again and again the one chosen name according to one‟s attributes and inclination. Bhaja Govindam is said to have been composed by Sri Shankara on this occasion. Adi Shankar is known as the proponent of  AWOt &ana maaga-, with Siva as the presiding deity;  but his advocacy for WOt Bai> maaga- with Sri Vishnu and Krishna was no less compelling and convincing, seeing the innumerable verses composed by him in praise of  Sri Vishnu as –  “Aaidkta- naarayaNaa#ya: ivaYNau:” and his principal descent  Krishna as the one  born in the Devaki’s womb as an aspect – “ivaYNau BaaOmasya ba`*maNa:”.  Bhaja Govindam also known as maaoh mauDg\ ar  consists of 33 verses out of which the first 12 verses known as WadSa maHjairka stao~ma\  are attributed to Shankara himself  and 14 verses to his each of his 14 disciples known as catud-Sa maHjairka stao~ma and of the

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 balance 7 veses 5 are again credited to Shankar and the balance 2 as conclusion to some unknown person.

| || || Meditate on the Lord, meditate on the Lord, meditate on the Lord, O the misguided one. Since when time comes near grammar would not be of any help.

Explanation sa%ya , the Prime Existence is not accessible through words, because there are no words which describe it. Any one can know vedic hymns, memorizing, remembering and recollecting them. Shankara addresses the old man as maUZ   , not the  fool but the misguided one, who is wasting his life memorizing, remembering and recollecting the vedic hymns and studying the grammatical rules. It is easier for  one who is wandering confused and confounded to be directed to traverse the right direction. It is easier for one who is ignorant to be instructed in Knowledge. But for  one who refuses to admit that he is ignorant, confused and confounded, who being egoist mistakes his undigested aggregation of information, the  Knowledge as Wisdom and instead flaunts himself as wise in Wisdom, then it is as difficult to  become a man of Wisdom, even as it is difficult to awaken a man who behaves that he is asleep, though not in sleep. A Knowledgeable person is not necessarily a man of Wisdom, his mind being closed he can never be receptive to the resonance of the soundless Sound, the stillness of the Silence, sa%ya , the Prime Existence. Whereas even an illiterate person can become aware of sa%ya , the Prime Existence. A man of Wisdom is not the one who knows what sa%ya , the Prime Existence is  but one , who reading between the lines is capable of decipher the meaning concealed between two words and experiencing heart, thought and in mind as  palpable Existence and becoming immortal  – “)da manaIYaa manasaaiBa@laRPtaoya etiwdurmaRtasto Bavaint  ||” ( Katha Up. II.3.9). For a man of  Wisdom, Baja , Bajana  signifies the performance of 

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action through surrender and submission to the resplendent supreme Self  by the individual self , Bai>  being the consequential and resultant communion. Bajana means sa%ya , the Prime Existence being constantly in devotee‟s heart, thought and in mind. When one sees, listens, smells, tastes, touches within and without one feels the  presence of the Lord, in earth, air, fire, wind and space, high and low and in every direction. When one vacates one‟s heart, thought and mind of the empirical thoughts there in the silent space, enters sa%ya , the Prime Existence enters.  Brihad   Aranyaka Up (IV.iv.23) that the one who is wise in Wisdom, experiencing the ineffability of the supreme Lord his greatness is thereafter not increased or  decreased by performance of actions, is not tainted by evil, becomes calm. Selfcontrolled, withdrawn, patient and collected seeing the supreme Self  in his own individual self , and sees all in the supreme Self. Evil does not overcome him; he overcomes the evil. Evil does not burn him; he burns the evil. Free from evil, free from taint, free from doubt, becomes a Brahmin, the man of Wisdom. Therefore wake up before it is too late. Your desires for possessions and  positions, for name and fame are transitory ephemeral fleeting and when time to depart comes none of these nor the  Knowledge which is but aggregation of  information, even as possessions and positions, for name and fame are, will save one from the jaws of death. That which was never yours, which comes in to your  custody for a brief period of time and when time comes and your  self leaves the  body it would no more remain in your custody, is not some thing to which one should cling. Indeed the self within and the supreme Self without is what remains ever and ever as eternal, which one should cling to, remembering and recollecting the essence, naama of the supreme Lord - Baja gaaoivandM Baja gaaoivandM Baja gaaoivandma\ .

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O the misguided one, give up the thirst for possessions and positions, inculcate  pure thoughts renouncing craving from mind. Whatever one receives from  performance of actions, whatever one gains rejoice one‟s mind.

Explanation :

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 Empirical Knowledge only helps in preparing the ground, it is Spiritual  Wisdom that enables one to sow the seeds, nurture the plants to flower and produce fruits in abundance.  Empirical Knowledge is like a raw fruit, not the ripe fruit which Wisdom represents. Therefore Knowledge at any moment in time is incomplete Wisdom alone being the complete when it dawns and makes the life enlightened by the resplendence of  sa%ya , the Prime Existence. If  Knowledge is like a raw fruit if needs it has to picked , if Wisdom is ripe fruit if needs not to picked, for  it falls by itself. Therefore, one should stop clinging to  Knowledge and cease to be enamoured with the temporal possessions and positions, name and fame, because  Knowledge remaining as dry as the seeds yet to be planted. Instead one should  become wise in wisdom equipped and qualified to enrich his life with green grass and fields rich in luscious fruits and golden grains reveling in the bliss and flabby  beatitude of  sa%ya , the Prime Existence. Wisdom does not desire to renounce saMsaar , Wisdom desires to liberation from saMsaar . saMsaar ,

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Do not, do not be fascinated or deluded seeing woman‟s breast or her nav el, thinking of them again and again, since they are nothing but mass of flesh and flab

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Like the drops of water on the lotus leaf are unsteady even so the life is similarly unsteady. Know the world is unstable distressed by disease and conceit, engulfed  by sorrow and worry.

Explanation : The primordial life, saMsaar  is ephemeral transient and fleeting and that it is ephemeral transient and fleeting itself makes it attractive. The more ephemeral transient and fleeting a thing is, more attractive the thing becomes. The stones are less attractive than the flowers, if there was no old age then who will be enamoured

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with youth, if there was no death of the body, then who will be enamored with the  body or kept being harmed? saMsaar  the primordial life, is unsteady like the drops of  water on the lotus leaf , unstable distressed by disease and conceit, engulfed by sorrow and worry. It appears to exist in the present means that the primordial life, saMsaar  takes the shape, good or bad, happy or unhappy, according to the responses which the Mind projects. Maitri Upanishad equates Mind with the primordial life, saMsaar  –  “ica